Anthrax to headline Metal Alliance trek, lead guitarist exits

Anthrax will helm this year's Metal Alliance tour, despite recent news of the departure of lead guitarist Rob Caggiano.

The hard-rock tour will also feature Exodus, High On Fire, Municipal Waste and Holy Grail, as well as other bands to be announced in the coming weeks.

The trek gets underway March 22 in Anaheim, CA, and works its way from the West Coast to the East. The 22-city outing, which includes a March 30 Vancouver performance, finishes up April 20 in New York City.

On Friday (1/4), Anthrax released a statement announcing the departure of Caggiano.

"Rob has been an integral part of Anthrax for so many years, as our lead guitarist, in a production capacity, but most of all, as our close friend," the statement said. "His contributions to the band have been enormous. While we are sad that he is leaving, we wish him nothing but great success going forward, and hope to share the stage with him again sometime down the road."

The press release also stated that the band, currently comprised of drummer Charlie Benante, guitarist Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello and singer Joey Belladonna, is considering several replacement options ahead of the March kick-off of Metal Alliance.